Coddling of the American Mind 👶

By Joe Lu

When I was growing up in Iowa I would leave the house after breakfast and not come home until dark.

It was a small town. Only 900 people. Most everyone knew everyone else. Most everyone farmed. Most everyone went to church.

As a result, we all pretty much shared the same values.

As a result, parents helped each other without asking permission ... something you basically never see anymore today.

One time I was at a homeschool meetup playing basketball. There were kids there from several families. We didn't know each other well, but I took the initiative of organizing and coaching the kids along.

Everything was fine...until one of the kids missed a basket.

“Let’s count it anyway”, the kid’s mother said.

I was confused, and then without thinking just said, “Well we can’t do that.” 😐

The mom looked at me like I had violated her right as a parent or something. 😡

Her son lost the game…and refused to shake my daughters hand and say, “good game.”

I was concerned, so then without thinking stood in front of him when he tried to walk away. Then I looked him in the eye and said calmly but firmly, “shake the other kids hands and say, “good game.”

The mom looked at me like I had violated her right as a parent or something and said, “Get out of my son’s face!” 😡

I was worried, so then without thinking I said, “I’m sorry!” 😥 --

It was a perfect example of Jonathan's Haidt's, "The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure" .

Children are anti-fragile. If they are confronted by the challenges of life, they grow stronger. If they are shielded from life, they atrophy. --

Dear Reader,

We are writing a book about the story of WEquil School. This is one of the chapters we are considering for inclusion. Let us know what you think by joining WEquil App and introducing yourself. Everyone who creates an account is given their own private room to meet our founders and share their story! Sincerely, WEquil Family